PORTSMOUTH — Just looking at the license plates in the parking lot of Portsmouth’s Frank Jones Center gives one an idea of the popularity of the Seacoast Spring Doll, Bear & Folk Art Show.

With New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire residents in attendance, promoter Wendy Collins was overjoyed on Sunday, November 4.

“I have been in this business for many years,” she said, “and doing this show since 2005. This is a good as I have seen it; lots of regulars.”

With over 85 tables of exhibitors, the large crowd was assured of finding items of interest. Things such as antique dolls, items by original artists, and folk art of all kinds.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” remarked Lewis Costanza of Melrose, Mass. as he looked at a table holding hundreds of Beanie Babies. “I can remember when people waited in line for hours, sometimes days for these, and now they’re on sale for a dollar apiece.”

Kimberly Kittredge of Mansfield, Conn. was showcasing her wares, consisting of pre-1930s artifacts such as a 1910 child’s elephant and teddy bears, circa 1920.

“I really like this show, it is so well run and well attended,” she said. “I have been involved in this business, actually more of a lifestyle, since I was a young girl. My mom was an antique dealer and I used to follow her around. I guess you could say I followed in her business footsteps as well.” Kittredge runs a large show in Sturbridge, Mass. as well. “This show is very good, it has a great following.”

Eleven-year-old Jenna Redlefsen of Medford, Mass. was attending the show for the second year with her father David.

“I like all doll clothes and American Girl doll stuff,” said the smiling ten year old while brandishing a bag holding American Girl Rollerblade and searching for her father, who is the checkwriter. “I like the bears too,” said the fourth grader.

At the age of 11, Jenna was not the youngest attending; if there was a prize it would go to Liam Dinwoodie of Rollinsford.

“Liam will be two years old in January,” explained his mother Renee, “and this is actually his second visit to this show; he came last Spring.” Liam was an experienced shopper, eyeing the teddy bear collection while hanging on to his personal animal, Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Dover High School senior Jen Blake was strolling through the crowd with her mother Pauline. The two were combing through toys looking for those “that I played with when I was young,” said Pauline, holding up a Liddle Kiddles Klub carrying case.

Family was also playing a part in a McWhinnie family table of 1980s items. Jeri McWhinnie’s mother was a dealer who passed away recently. “This is a one-time show for us,” explained Jeri’s sister-in-law Bari. “We are selling her mother’s collection. I am sure she is looking down on us with approval.” They were ably assisted by Bari’s mother Shelley Bice of Amherst, who may have been the star of the show fully attired as Andy of Raggedy Ann and Andy fame.

With people rolling in at lunch time there was hot clam chowder available. Isabelle Brewster and her great aunt, Del Floyd of Limerick, Maine, were partaking and chatting about what they had seen this day. “I own a museum in Limerick called Playthings & Pastimes and we have a lovely collection of items. Eleven-year-old Isabelle from Cornish enjoys miniatures and is in the sixth grade at Sacopee Valley School.

Commented Floyd, “One thing that is so funny about these shows is people talking about new innovations in doll technology. One of the new things is ball joints in dolls.” She joked: “It is so new it goes back to the sixties, the 1860s.